Per Mertesacker is entrusted with the job of collecting fines from Arsenal players in breach of club discipline but the German may find himself going cap in hand to manager Arsene Wenger for his place in the team.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has denied claims he was dismissive of Didier Drogba's current form and fitness following a scouting mission to watch Champions League opponents Galatasaray at the weekend.

Reports in Turkey that were picked up in the Spanish media suggested Mourinho was far from impressed with Drogba after seeing his performance in Galatasaray's victory at Kayserispor on Sunday.

However, Mourinho has moved to reject those claims, describing his former Chelsea forward, who joined Gala in January from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua, as "out of this world".

The Portuguese said in an interview with Real Madrid TV: "You have given me the chance to say that these types of things you see in the press don't bother me, because Drogba knows who I am and what I feel in my heart for him, but maybe people could think they were true.

"Picture this: I go to Turkey, I'm working, I watch the match, I head off before the end and then there are statements from me saying bad things about Drogba.

"I'm not going to say that he is my favourite player because I have had a lot of truly special players, but if I had to choose one I might go for Didier.

"As a player he is out of this world. I would like to have him by my side, so just imagine.

"It's impossible that I would talk bad about Drogba. There is no problem because he knows that the last thing I would do is to say anything negative about my relationship with him."